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Films of Jean Harlow
A guide to the films of Jean Harlow.
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 7, 2020
"Platinum blonde" and "blonde bombshell," phrases from the early 1930's still conjure up only one person: Jean Harlow.
Hers was a short life, but one of immense vitality, and her untimely death at the tender age of 26 sent shock waves through the entertainment world.
Harlow was one of the greatest of the Hollywood sex symbols, but she was also a gifted comedian and, to those who worked with her, a warm and loving human being.
The authors, Michael Conway and Mark Ricci, have detailed all her 25 films, from her early bit parts in the Laurel & Hardy "Double Whoopee" and Chaplin's "City Lights" and the Clara Bow starrer "The Saturday Night Kid" to the movie that brought her to Hollywood's attention: the 1930 Howard Hughes film "Hell's Angels" (1930).
Her career really took off when she joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1932 and appeared in much loved movies such as "Red-Headed Woman"/ opposite Clark Gable in "Red Dust," "Hold Your Man" and "China Seas"/ "Bombshell"/ "Dinner at Eight" with an all-star cast including Marie Dressler, John and Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery/ "The Girl from Missouri"/ the classic "Libelled Lady" co-starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy/ and her last, falling ill during the filming of "Saratoga" (1937) co-starring with Gable for a final time; and dying of kidney disease before completion of the film (some scenes feature her stand-in).
With a brief biography and commentary, a Harlow Gallery, descriptive compilation of all her appearances with critics comments and more than 200 finely produced photos.
Review based on Citadel Press Hard cover edition, 1965. 159 pages.
Hers was a short life, but one of immense vitality, and her untimely death at the tender age of 26 sent shock waves through the entertainment world.
Harlow was one of the greatest of the Hollywood sex symbols, but she was also a gifted comedian and, to those who worked with her, a warm and loving human being.
The authors, Michael Conway and Mark Ricci, have detailed all her 25 films, from her early bit parts in the Laurel & Hardy "Double Whoopee" and Chaplin's "City Lights" and the Clara Bow starrer "The Saturday Night Kid" to the movie that brought her to Hollywood's attention: the 1930 Howard Hughes film "Hell's Angels" (1930).
Her career really took off when she joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1932 and appeared in much loved movies such as "Red-Headed Woman"/ opposite Clark Gable in "Red Dust," "Hold Your Man" and "China Seas"/ "Bombshell"/ "Dinner at Eight" with an all-star cast including Marie Dressler, John and Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery/ "The Girl from Missouri"/ the classic "Libelled Lady" co-starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy/ and her last, falling ill during the filming of "Saratoga" (1937) co-starring with Gable for a final time; and dying of kidney disease before completion of the film (some scenes feature her stand-in).
With a brief biography and commentary, a Harlow Gallery, descriptive compilation of all her appearances with critics comments and more than 200 finely produced photos.
Review based on Citadel Press Hard cover edition, 1965. 159 pages.
August 2, 2023
While it was entertaining enough to flick through, this is exactly the type of book that they stopped making when the internet came along.
It was also quite telling that I had to read Jean Harlow's wikipedia entry in order to explain some gaps and references in the book. But still, reading this book was an undemanding and pleasant way to pass the time. If only one of the streaming services took historical films more seriously, it would have been great to be able to watch her films as I read.
It was also quite telling that I had to read Jean Harlow's wikipedia entry in order to explain some gaps and references in the book. But still, reading this book was an undemanding and pleasant way to pass the time. If only one of the streaming services took historical films more seriously, it would have been great to be able to watch her films as I read.
January 7, 2020
One of my favourite actresses, Jean Harlow had a short but memorable movie career. She mixed sex and comedy with such ease. She was glamorous, funny, and vulnerable. The book covers all of her films, but be aware that there are plot spoilers. Lovely photos included.
February 2, 2021
enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews